ramblings

Eirrin sat on the log with his chin in a palm watching the dance circle about the glade. He had his eye on one of the dancers in particular, a fine wisp of a girl, Tiana. He thought she knew he was watching but every time she glanced his way their eyes would briefly meet each other’s as they looked elsewhere. He like what he saw. She was dressed entirely in a long green gown and had bluish ribbons striped with paler hues plaited in her long hair. Pity the poor human that ever saw her. Their crossing looks became longer each time she passed near him.

As he sat debating whether to join the circle or pull Tiana out Alis appeared at his side. “Ah, a mighty fine looking girl, Eirrin. But she won’t have anything to do with the likes of you. You are too bland.” Alis dropped onto the log.

Eirrin looked at his friend. “I suppose you have a remedy for what ails us?”

“I do, my friend, I do.” Alis stood and paced before Eirrin, stopping in front of him only when Tiana was passing. “Kookooskoos is hunting near tonight and I think he would not mind giving up a tail feather of two for the likes of us.”

Eirrin knew his friend and if he didn’t go with him his night would be ruined. No, not really ruined but interrupted with Alis’ fidgeting. Anyway, an owl feather would look good adorning his cap. He’d seen some of his fellows wearing cock feathers proudly, but to be the proud owner of a tail feather from the mighty Kookooskoos. Oh, but did he dare to dream? Who knew, Alis had done both better and worse with his ideas. Whatever the outcome it would be an experience.

“Okay,” he replied, rising. “Lead on, my good man.” Eirrin bowed waving his right arm and hand out before himself. Alis danced a jig he’d learned from a passing Leprechaun and the two swaggered from the glade.

As they made their way through the forest the tiny sliver of a moon could be seen just topping the peaks to the east. Alis made grand plans of how they would do this and that; and spoke of the new admiration they would receive. Eirrin enjoyed Alis and his plans and his stories. He knew Alis would be a wonder when he became old and relived his life around the hearths in winter. Eirrin slowed and cut a couple of lengths of wild grapevine to help them in the conquest to where Kookooskoos perched surveying his terrain.
As they eased into place below him he opened his mighty wings and swooped silently to another tree. He looked back at the two as if to say, I’m not going to make this easy. Eirrin and Alis knew he didn’t see them as he hunted his supper among the small fellows who ran in the leaves. They made too much noise, as if to say, Here I am. Come get me. Which Kookooskoos usually did.

When they were once more in place the great owl moved again. Alis silently cursed and said to his friend, “Will he ever sit still long enough?”

Eirrin gave the two lengths of vine to Alis saying, “Go. Get us the two feathers that will mark us as brothers. I will draw his attention. Hopefully he will sit long enough for you to complete this before it becomes too late.” Eirrin made his way to the other side of the small clearing rustling a few leaves here and there. Kookooskoos turned his large eyes on the noise. As Alis made his way up the tree Eirrin kept the owl occupied with just enough noise to keep it interested but not enough for it to attack.

Alis tied the vine around his waist and around the bole of the tree before shimming out the branch just below Kookooskoos. Just as he stood and grabbed two feathers Eirrin ran across the clearing. Kookooskoos launched himself off the branch pulling Alis from his perilous perch. The vine reached its limit pulling Alis back along with only one tail feather and knocking the owl from his killing approach to Eirrin. The owl turned in mid-flight and headed to a tall tree where he checked himself over and preened the area of the missing feather. Eirrin ran over to where Alis swung just off the ground, and got him to his feet.

“I see you only got one feather,” Eirrin said. “Well you keep it. You earned it.”

Alis smiled proudly. “It will look better in my cap, will it not?” he said as he made a small cut and placed the feather just so.

As they made their way back to the clearing they could hear the dance continuing. Their luck continued finding their log unoccupied. As they sat Tiana danced out of the circle wondering where they had gone. Eirrin sat quietly as Alis described the exploits of the early evening. When he was finished Tisii joined them. As she fussed and fawned over the feather Tiana turned to Eirrin and said, “I shall make you a scarf as worthy of those who went on the feather quest.

The two Elves who stood under the Rhododendron shrub were dress almost alike; brown breeches, green jerkin and soft brown boots. Where Alis had the tail feather of an owl stuck jauntily in his soft brown cap Eirrin had a scarf of green and orange draped around his neck and hanging equal distance front and back. His cap was green with the brim turned down all around. As he wiped the last of the dew from his silver bucket with lichen from the north side of the tree he said, “I’m getting tired of that dwarf Bucus picking on me.”

“Yeah, like you’re going to do something. Remember that old saying, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’ Anyway,” said Alis turning his bucket upside down so the last drop would slide down the smooth side and splash at his feet. “We are off for the next few days. No dew to do.” he laughed at his own joke, jabbing Eirrin in the ribs with his elbow.

Eirrin smiled that crooked smile prevalent when you are doing it to please the other. “He has made me spill my bucket for the last time. I don’t care if he is a distant relative of Sindri’s. I’m going to get even with him.”

The false dawn was hinting at the real thing from the east. And in the mountains it could be dark of night one moment and the sun would be topping a peak the next. The faint crowing of a cock could be heard off in the distance. “We must hurry,” Alis whispered.
They turned and disappeared among the brown and green of the shrubs.

A little after sunset Alis arrived at Eirrin’s dwelling. “There’s a big dance on for tonight. You want to go?” But Eirrin told him he wasn’t really interested in dancing. But deep down he was troubled Bucus would show and ruin the evening. “Well, if you don’t want to dance, how about we go tickle some trout.”

But he really didn’t want to spend the night on his stomach with is arms shoulder deep in the cold water waiting for an unsuspecting trout to come along so he could run his fingers along it’s underside. What he wanted to do was get a weapon to defend against Bucus.
As they stood watching the full moon shrink higher and higher into the night sky Eirrin knew what he wanted to do. “Let’s go see if we can get a weapon from the human blacksmith.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” said Alis. “Remember what he has there.”
But Eirrin was on his way, striding with purpose and intention.

They were in luck, the human was still working the anvil. As they eased through the door cracked open to let out some of the heat the large orange cat turned his yellow eyes their way. It sat up and watched them ease around the room. The human saw the movement of the cat and turned to where it was looking. They froze as his attention was brought to bear on them.

“What do we have here?” it asked in a booming voice “I remember you.” it continued, pointing the heavy hammer at Eirrin.

“The human knows you?” asked Alis in wonderment. Eirrin shrugged and looked down, scrunching his face as he nodded yes. “How?”

“You’re the one who saved me from the beauty of Edda and her invitation to dance, aren’t you?” Once again Eirrin nodded. The cat watched as he licked a paw and wiped it behind his ear. And Eirrin watched the cat as it repeated its actions. “What can I do for you?” the human asked placing the hammer on the anvil, work forgotten.

Eirrin told the human the entire story leaving out nothing. Even adding some things as he became aware of them for the first time. As he finished the cat jumped off the bench and walked to the open door, stopping and looking back at Eirrin, once, before disappearing.

“Well, I have just the thing,” said the human, rummaging around behind the forge. And finally, after a few chosen words about the gods and mothers else where, he turned to Eirrin with a leather pouch. After carefully unwrapping it he laid it on the ground between them. It was perfect. “It’s a dagger I made for a man who failed to take into account an angry husband. It is yours for the taking.” The human stepped back.

On the swath of leather was the perfect sword. The blade gleamed in the firelight like a thousand fireflies all sitting on the same grass stem. He hefted it and tested the balance. The gods smiled upon him this night, it was better than perfect. It felt as if it was made just for him and him alone. As he tested its balance with a few quick moves he knew in his heart that the human had used dwarf ore in forging this blade. It fit his hand like it was an extension of his arm. It acted as one with him. “This goes with it,” the human added laying a hard leather scabbard tooled with intricate markings. Eirrin buckled it on.
And with the action came a lifting of the fear of Bucus.

Eirrin sat near the forge watching the large orange cat watch him. The human turned from filling their cups with fresh ale but the cat was use to the human and paid him no attention. He slowly closed his eyes for a breath, once more and watched Eirrin. “Why does he do that?” Eirrin asked reaching for the cup.

“I don’t know, for sure, but I think it is his way of checking reality,” answered the human. “Tales tell of cats having special senses. Of being able to see ghosts, the wind, and such, their mind works so differently they have to stop and check reality every now and then. That’s why they blink like that.”

Eirrin laughed. “I like you, human. You are funny, especially when you’ve had a couple of cups. You tell the most outrageous stories. Are you sure you’re not kin to the giants?”